Musgrave Group, owner of Ireland's largest domestic supermarket chain, is understood to be planning to offer mobile- phone services using the network of Eircom.

Talks between Eircom and Musgrave's Supervalu unit are at an advanced stage, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the plans aren't yet finalised.

“Supervalu is considering other products to offer in the future, including mobile services,” Musgrave said in an e- mailed response to questions. “However, we have not finalised our plans in this area.”

A Musgrave spokesman declined to comment on the talks with Eircom. Officials at Eircom also declined to comment.

Supervalu controls about a quarter of the Irish grocery retail market with 2014 sales of €2.6 billion, according to the company. UK based Tesco, the largest retailer operating in Ireland, has been offering mobile phone services since 2007, currently using Hutchison Whampoa Ltd.'s Three unit's network.

Bloomberg